No Team GB campaign call for an Ethical Decision for the 2012 London Olympics
The ongoing corruption allegations against JS Blatter and his lieutenants at the very top of the FIFA tree come as no surprise to the No Team GB campaign. For the past five years we have been questioning the assurances that FIFA representatives have been making with regards to protecting the independence of the football teams of the four home nations (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales).
FIFA have flip flopped on their views towards a GB football team participating at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. In March 2008 Mr Blatter stated “If you start to put together a combined team for the Olympics, the question will automatically come up that there are four different associations so how can they play in one team”. This was then contradicted by Jerome Valcke the following year when he offered assurances that that the four home nations would have their independent identities protected. This assurance from Mr Valcke was made in spite of the fact that no individual from FIFA can make this promise on the basis that it could be altered at any future FIFA congress.
This was the same Jerome Valcke who was sensationally sacked from his Marketing position at FIFA in 2006 by Mr Blatter after he was found guilty of violating the negotiation rules with the FIFA sponsor MasterCard after going behind their back and holding concurrent discussions with VISA. Mr Valcke was then made FIFA General Secretary in 2007 in yet another flip flop decision by Mr Blatter. Perhaps Mr Valcke was party to certain information that forced Sepp’s hand to bring him back into the FIFA family?
Mr Blatter and Mr Valcke are now at the centre of allegations of cheating, unethical behaviour and corruption. They are in the dock with Jack Warner and Mohammed Bin Hamman. Meanwhile, FIFA have cleared the unethical charges against Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii who were exposed in an article in the Sunday Times of promising world cup votes for cash.
Lord Coe was the first chairman of the FIFA Ethics committee when he was appointed to the role in 2006. After the farce of England’s bid to host the 2018 FIFA world cup, it would be interesting to hear Lord Coe’s views on the FIFA ethics committee and the rules and scope which govern that committee.
In the past few years there have been a number of high profile British citizens who have been on the receiving end of FIFA surprises (Lord Triesman, Geoff Thompson, John McBeth, David Cameron, David Beckham, Lord Coe, Prince William to name a few). Quite how the British Olympic Association and the English Football Association can continue to propose that a GB Football Team participates at the 2012 London Olympics on the back of FIFA assurances beggars belief.
Tam Ferry, spokesman for No Team GB said, “All along we have said that FIFA assurances are worthless. Blatter being in denial about FIFA being in crisis is like the Iraqi Information minister denying the US troops were anywhere near Baghdad as their tanks drove behind him”
Paul Corkrey, spokesman for No Team GB is also quoted, "Its no surprise to the Welsh fans that Blatter got 186 votes in his re-election, as to vote against him would be like Turkeys voting for Christmas"
The No Team GB campaign believes that the future of the England football team has been put in jeopardy by the recent comments of Lord Moynihan, the BOA chairman and former Olympic cox...
His push for a GB football team made up of players from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales at the 2012 London Olympic games could spell the end for the current independent status that the four home nations have in world football. Previous calls for a joint GB football team at the 2012 Olympics have been met with comments from FIFA and UEFA that this could put the independence of the home nations under threat on the world stage.
Football managers across Britain are also aware of risks involved in such a move. This was acknowledged by the football associations of all four countries and the FAs of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales then made the decision not to risk their futures by declining to become involved. This led to the English FA agreeing that only English players would be considered for Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics.
Like Seb Coe before him, Lord Moynihan does not have any relevant experience of football politics. The recent FIFA decision for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will have opened the eyes of Seb Coe to the inner workings of FIFA and the fact that assurances for future votes cannot always be relied upon. At Prime Minister’s Questions on 15 December 2010 David Cameron stated “My recent experiences have taught me to stay away from international football”. Certain figures within FIFA may take the opportunity to use a GB football team made up of all four home nations to press forward their agenda to end the independence of England and the other three nations.
The No Team GB campaign would suggest that that Lord Moynihan invites David Cameron, Seb Coe and Andy Anson to BOA HQ for tea and biscuits and to get a feel for the powers of world football. He will then realise that his suggestion for a GB football team will have serious implications for all four home nations. Implications that heavily outweigh putting an under 23 team into a future Olympic competition.
The fans of all four home nations are standing shoulder to shoulder under www.NoTeamGB.com to reject this suggestion from Lord Moynihan. Simon Johnston from the Association of Tartan Army Clubs is quoted as saying “I find Lord Moynihan’s comments extraordinary given the events of the past few weeks. The England 2018 bid team were promised votes from seven or eight FIFA delegates but only one delivered. What are their assurances worth? This clearly showed that FIFA cannot be relied upon with the future of the four home nations. It really is time that the BOA and the English FA put to bed the pipedream of Team GB. The risks are just too high”.
Ken Malley of the Football Supporters’ Federation said “Every survey of English fans that we have done or seen has shown that the majority do not want a combined GB team. Like the followers of the other Home Nations, fans of England are concerned that this will set a precedent and that we may lose our independent identities. Promises from people in authority that this will not happen are not trusted by the fans. After recent events concerning the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids, Lord Moynihan’s assertion that Sepp Blatter has reassured the respective FAs of their continued autonomy is likely to be greeted with some derision by the supporters.”
By retracting his suggestion, Lord Moynihan, who previously tried to force an ID card scheme on British football fans, would show that he has the interests of football supporters throughout the four home nations onside.
The Association of Tartan Army clubs (ATAC - Scotland)
Football Supporters Federation (FSF - England)
Football Supporters Federation Cymru (FSF Cymru - Wales)
Amalgamation of Official NI Supporters Clubs (AONISC - Northern Ireland)
Fans blast U-Turn on Team GB
The No Team GB campaign today launched a scathing attack towards the Football Associations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as it was revealed they will set aside their previous objections and will allow an all England team to participate in the 2012 Olympics, badged up as a Team GB.
Spokesman Tam Ferry said;
“We are shocked and disgusted with this U-turn and apparent endorsement of a Team GB.
It was only 2 months ago that the SFA, IFA and FAW sent a joint letter to FIFA, BOA and the FA, stating categorical opposition to the creation of a Team GB Football team. Furthermore the SFA, IFA and FAW explicitly mentioned they would not participate in any more discussions on this topic.
Given this statement of intent, we were astonished to find out that there was a secret meeting of the 4 FA’s to discuss Team GB.
The decision to remove their opposition and thus allowing England to play as Team GB sets a dangerous precedent which could lead to the end of our identities as independent international football nations.
The 4 FA’s clearly fail to realise that this decision could not only end up costing them their positions and could also be the beginning of the end of the Scottish, English, Wales and Irish FA’s.”
He continued;
“This is not the end of the fight. The very futures of our independent International teams are at stake here.
The England and Scotland - two oldest international teams - along with Northern Ireland and Wales could disappear forever if FIFA decide to vote through a change to the special privileged articles which allows the teams to participate, despite not meeting entry requirements to FIFA.
The fans, the REAL football fans of the 4 countries will be convening a meeting in Newcastle next month to decide the next steps in the fight to preserve their independence.”
The Association of Tartan Army clubs (ATAC - Scotland)
Football Supporters Federation (FSF - England)
Football Supporters Federation Cymru (FSF Cymru - Wales)
Amalgamation of Official NI Supporters Clubs (AONISC - NorthernIreland)
The BOA and UK Government were today accused of acting like schoolkids in a playground after yesterdays revelation that a GB football team will be entered in the 2012 Olympics, against the express wishes of the IFA, SFA and FAW. The statement from government minister Gerry Sutcliffe MP was branded as a childish, "we're taking our ball back" stance, in expressing the intent of entering a GB football team, regardless of the views of the football fans and the other Football Associations.
NoTeamGB.com Spokesperson, Tam Ferry said:-
"The BOA have no moral authority to enter a GB football Team into the 2012 Olympics, against the expressed wishes of the SFA, IFA and FAW. Reassurances from any FIFA individual, namely Mr Blatter and Mr Valcke are meaningless. No individual can make any reassurances on the future existence of our home nations teams, as its the entire FIFA membership, not any individual that would decide the future of our national Teams."
He continued:-
"The FA, SFA, FAW and IFA have a special privileged position within FIFA which is looked on with envious eyes by many FA's worldwide. All this talk of Team GB simply highlights our special membership of FIFA despite the membership criteria being "......an independent state recognised by the international community." (FIFA Statutes 2008, Article 10.1)
A GB Football team manufactured solely for the purpose of winning medals and boosting attendances at the 2012 Olympics flies in the face of the Olympic creed. A GB (professional U23 with 3 overage players) football team does not exist.
FACT.
GB Football Team has no players, no fans, no home, no strip, and no history.
FACT.
The BOA are going about this the wrong way if all they want is Team England disguised as Team GB to compete at the Olympics. Instead of the BOA asking FIFA for reassurances that cannot be guaranteed, the BOA should be asking the IOC for special dispensation for Team England, Team Scotland, Team Wales and Team NI to participate in the Olympic football.
If the BOA are intent on bending the eligibility rules to enable participation in any event, then they should bend their own Olympic rules and allow extra teams instead of breaking the rules of an unrelated organisation and endangering the very existence of 4 other unrelated organisations.
With this compromise the stadiums would be full, medal chances would be increased but most importantly, there would be no dangerous precedent set which could threaten the very existence of our international football teams."
The football fans of all 4 home nations are united and will continue to fight under the NoTeamGB.com Campaign.
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